Collaboration will help ensure Successful Convention by Enhancing the Delegate Experience and Showcasing the Regional Attractions

PHILADELPHIA, PA - The 2016 Democratic National Convention Committee has joined forces with the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) and the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) to accommodate more than 35,000 expected participants. This partnership will help enhance the delegate experience and ensure that delegates have an array of options to meet their needs during the Convention.

The Democratic Convention expects to utilize more than 15,000 hotel rooms during convention week in July 2016. Approximately 500 buses will be used to provide transportation during the Convention. To address the need for additional hotels and facilities outside the river to river boundaries of Philadelphia, the DNCC expanded its footprint to include properties in adjacent counties, allowing the DNCC the opportunity to work with both the PHLCVB and the VFTCB who together service hundreds of meetings and conventions each year.

"Part of the reason the Democratic National Convention selected Philadelphia as our host city is because it has a great infrastructure," said Rev. Leah D. Daughtry, CEO for the DNCC. "The Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau and the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board are an instrumental part of that infrastructure. Together they provide hotel rooms, facilities and resources in a variety of locations that will help delegates and other participants navigate greater Philadelphia and maximize their convention experience. We are thankful for their partnership."

"It is truly exciting to be hosting a convention like the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, which will provide invaluable exposure for our city," said Julie Coker Graham, executive Vice President, PHLCVB. "In addition to our superb hotel options, we are thrilled to be able to showcase to the convention delegates our walkability, our historic attractions like Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the National Constitution were signed, our many cultural institutions, our eclectic dining scene including intimate neighborhood restaurants as well as Top Chef-driven culinary experiences, and all of the other qualities that make Philadelphia one of the nation's most sought after cities for hosting a meeting."

"We certainly value this exciting opportunity to partner with the Democratic National Convention Committee through our relationship with the PHLCVB," said Mike Bowman, VFTCB President and CEO. "With our area's close proximity to the Wells Fargo Center, high-quality hotels and world-class shopping, and of course, the iconic Valley Forge National Historical Park, this momentous event will have a significant and long-lasting economic impact on our region."

About the Democratic National ConventionThe 2016 Democratic Convention will be held at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia July 25-28, 2016. Working in partnership with the Philadelphia Host Committee, the City of Philadelphia and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, our goal is to make this the most engaging, innovative and forward looking Convention in history. The 2016 Democratic National Convention will leverage technology to take the Convention experience well beyond the hall in an effort to engage more Americans than ever before in the event. With the birthplace of American Democracy as a backdrop, the 2016 convention in Philadelphia will highlight our shared Democratic values and help put the Democratic nominee on a path to victory.
The Democratic Convention is the formal nominating event for the Democratic candidates for President and Vice President. At the Convention, the Democratic Party also adopts the official Democratic Party platform as well as the rules and procedures governing party activities including the nomination process for presidential candidates in the next election cycle. The CEO for the 2016 Democratic National Convention is Reverend Leah D. Daughtry.
The official website of the 2016 Democratic National Convention is www.demconvention.com

About the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board
The Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) is a nonprofit, membership based sales and marketing organization that actively promotes the Valley Forge area and Montgomery County, Pa., as a convention site and leisure visitor destination by encouraging patronage of its 300-plus member hotels, restaurants, attractions and services. The VFTCB recently went through a top to bottom rebranding of the organization. It launched a new "Let Freedom Reign" branding campaign in May 2014, which has quickly generated new excitement and interest in Montgomery County and its numerous tourism and convention destinations. The campaign included a traveling #MakeItMontco kiosk, which has already visited more than 20 locations, a multimedia advertising campaign, a robust media relations campaign, "whistle stop" tours through Montgomery County towns to educate residents and elected officials about the new campaign. The VFTCB's award-winning website, valleyforge.org, serves visitors, meeting planners, tour operators and residents, as well as hosts The Pursuit, a nationally recognized twice-weekly blog.